Stay member for coat necks



May 20, 1930. D. E. TRACY STAY MEMBER FOR COAT ANEcK's Filed Feb. 28. 1928 INVENToR. .Ez/we] E 7%@ Gy A TTORNEY.

Patented May 20, 1930 DANIEL E. TRACY, F ASHTABULA, OHIO STAY MEMBER FOR GOAT NECKS Application filed February 28, 1928.

This invention relates to a stay member for the neck portion of the body of a coat, and has for its primary obj ect to provide a device of this character which can be economically manufactured and which possesses the desred requisite for imparting to the neck portion of a coat directly below the back portion of the collar of the same, a smooth and perfect fitting appearance, and for preventing wrinkling of the neck portion of the coat body below the coat collar, regardless of the position or posture of the wearer. n

The invention relates more particularly to a stay member for the neck portion of the body of a coat, said stay member being sewed in or afliXed between the lining and the outer material of the coat body directly and entirely under the back portion of the coat collar.

The invention consists in the novel features hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a coat, showing the manner of application of the invention; y

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the stay member reversed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the stay member;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Figure 4. Y

The present stay member is intended to be used to stifen the neck portion of a coat at the upper part of the back, which lies directly below the collar of the person, the object being to prevent such neck portion of the coat from breaking ork creasing and thereby destroying the appearance of the coat. In other words, the purpose of the invention is to prevent the coat from Wrinkling across the back of the neck `iust below the collar line, thereby preserving the sightly and perfect fitting appearance of the coat below the collar of the latter. f

As shown, the stay member consists of a Serial c No. 257,753.

substantially crescent-shaped sheet 5 of relatively stiffr1 but flexible material, and having a length to extend from side to side of the 'rear neck portion of the coat as shown in Figure 1, the upper edge of the stay member as of resilient flexible material, such as rubber, n

said stay member being of maximum thickness at the central portion thereof where greatest stiffness is required for resisting the breaking or creasing of the coat neck. As shown clearly in Figures 5 and Y6, the stay 65 member 5 gradually tapers downwardly andi to the sides to al substantially feather edgey as at 7 thus decreasing the stiffness and increasing the flexibility of the stay member gradually toward the bottom and sides as is. also clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, theH stay member 5 has one flat face 8 and its other face is slightly bulged or arched as at .9. This renders the stay member reversible, the arched face 9 being disposed outermost as l shown in Figure 2 to give the neck portion of the coat a sightly appearance when the wearer is ewe-necked, and the flat face being disposed outermost as shown in Figure 3, when the wearer is only slightly owenecked.

A tape binding 10 is provided on the upper edge 6 of the stay member 5 so that when the latter is sewed to the upper edge of the coat neck through this binding the stay member is effectively fastened in place.

As shown clearly in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, the stay member is secured at its upper edge to the coat at the lower line of the coat coln lar, as at 11, the stay member being interposedo between the lining 12 and outer material orr i cloth 13 of the coat body. The relatively thick major central portion of the stay member gives the necessary body and padding to the coat neck portion and also imp'orts95 the necessary stiffness and resistance to break-'f ing. By reason of the resilient and exible nature of the stay member and the gradual tapering thereof toward the bottom and sides, no discomfort will be caused to the wearer,

and a most sightly appearance is insured under all conditions.

Minor changes may be made Vwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is A stay member for the rear neck portion of a coat, comprising a relatively stiff substantially crescent-shaped sheet having a curved upper edge conforming to the lower line of the coat collar and'gradually decreasing in thickness and stilness fromthe upper central portion toward the bottom and sides,

said sheet embodying a single piece of flexible resilient material of non-absorbent homogenous character, having one face thereof flat and its other face arched outwardly.

i In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

DANIEL E. TRACY. 

